Turkey slams southern EU nations on drilling bid off Cyprus

Turkey on Saturday criticized southern European Union
nations for urging the EU to consider action against Turkey over its bid to
drill for gas in waters where Cyprus has exclusive economic rights.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement that a
declaration issued by the leaders of France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain and
Malta shows the EU cannot be a “neutral and trusted actor” to resolve the
dispute over divided Cyprus.

The ministry statement called on EU states to acknowledge
Turkish Cypriots’ equal rights over the island’s resources. It added that Turkey,
which has sent a drill ship to Cyprus’ western coast, is determined to protect
those rights.

Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a
coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Cyprus’ government hasn’t said so publicly but it has issued
international arrest warrants against the ship’s crew and foreign company
officials assisting in the drilling.

Speaking after talks with his Emirati counterpart, Cypriot
Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said Turkey’s actions were part of its
“concerted strategy to exert control in the eastern Mediterranean” over energy
issues. He accused the country of putting regional peace and stability at great
risk.

Christodoulides said Cyprus expects Turkey to end its
“gunboat diplomacy” in order to pave the way for a resumption of stalled talks
aimed at reunifying the ethnically divided island nation.